Method for ablating portions of the uterus

ABSTRACT

A multifunctional device for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of the type where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provide access to an operative site and the multifunctional device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal. The multifunctional device is formed of an absorbent material, preferably expandable, having a substantially rigid dry state prior to introduction to the operative site and a soft, flexible wet state after absorbing fluids. The absorbent material can be formed with a spine therein of either a continuous or a discontinuous, segmented construction, and the spine can be branched and tubular or solid. The absorbent material can have portions or segments thereof expandable to different sizes to produce rounded protuberances to facilitate manipulation at the operative site and can have predetermined, non-straight configurations in the wet state, the predetermined configurations being controlled by the spine in the absorbent material or the method of forming the absorbent material. The multifunctional device can have a passage therethrough to accommodate laser, electrosurgical, biopsy or culturing instruments.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.08/595,461, filed Feb. 5, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,252, which is acontinuation of patent application Ser. No. 08/295,022, file Aug. 25,1994 and now abandoned, which is a division of patent application Ser.No. 08/130,484, filed Oct. 1, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,426, which isa division of patent application Ser. No. 07/600,775, filed Oct. 23,1990 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,261, which is a continuation-in-part ofpatent application Ser. No. 07/556,081, filed Jul. 24, 1990 and now U.S.Pat. No. 5,074,840 and this application is also a continuation-in-partof patent application Ser. No. 08/768,239, filed Dec. 17, 1996 now U.S.Pat. No. 5,782,800, which is a continuation of patent application Ser.No. 08/441,465, filed May 15, 1995 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,013,which is a division of patent application Ser. No. 08/249,116, filed May25, 1994 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,091 which is a continuation-in-partof patent application Ser. No. 07/596,937, filed Oct. 15, 1990 and nowabandoned. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to multifunctional devices for use at anoperative site for increased visualization of the operative field,manipulation of tissue, exposure and isolation of tissue, absorption ofbody fluids and/or treatment of tissue, and, more particularly, to suchdevices for use in endoscopically performed operative procedures andmethods therefor.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Endoscopically performed operative procedures are preferred for surgeryon the human body due to their least invasive nature and reduced traumaand tissue damage as compared with open surgery. There are many commonendoscopically performed operative procedures including, for example,laparoscopy (pelviscopy), gastroentroscopy, laryngobronchoscopythoracoscopy, arthroscopy and the like. While endoscopically performedoperative procedures are preferred, there are obstacles to expandingendoscopy to include the various procedures currently performed withopen surgery. One of the obstacles is that packing of the internaloperative site has not been able to be accomplished in the past due tothe fact that access to the operative site is available only through anarrow portal normally including a cylindrical sleeve positioned bymeans of a puncturing instrument. Without packing, endoscopic proceduresare much more difficult and dangerous to perform, even with the use ofinsufflation and instruments particularly useful in endoscopy, such aslaser and electrosurgical instruments, since the tissue or organstructure cannot be adequately exposed and manipulated, the surroundingtissue and organ structure is not protected during the procedure andbody fluids cannot be removed from the operative site without the use ofexpensive and cumbersome suction equipment. Effective exposure ofdiagnostic and surgical sites is vitally important in order to carry outsuccessful procedures.

Many presently performed endoscopic procedures are implemented with theuse of electrosurgical or laser instruments for coagulation and cuttingwhich presents the opportunity for accidental contact or scarring oftissue not intended to be treated if the operative site is notadequately packed to expose and isolate the tissue to be treated and ifvision is impaired by blood or other body fluids. Accordingly, whilelaser and electrosurgical probes can be introduced through narrowportals to permit various types of procedures to be performedendoscopically, great care is required to assure that adjacent tissue isnot inadvertently damaged thus resulting in increased time to completethe surgery. In most endoscopic procedures, there is very little spacein which to maneuver instruments; and, in many cases, tissue surroundingthe operative site must be retracted or repositioned to facilitate theprocedure. During open surgery, sponges or other absorbent materials areused to isolate and expose the operative site, and clear vision can beachieved by absorbing or aspirating body fluids, such as blood or thelike, due to the large access area to the operative site. For closed orendoscopic surgery, however, access to the operative site is limited,and facilitating procedures cannot be achieved, such as, for example,cleaning and wiping of the tissue during coagulation and cutting,manipulation of the tissue during coagulation and cutting, lysis ofadhesion, and irrigation and/or aspiration for cases where cystic fluidhas been released.

Preferably, electric or laser coagulation and cutting is performed withsimultaneous manipulation of tissue, cleaning and wiping of tissue,irrigation and/or aspiration, and biopsy and culture procedures;however, these functions could not be provided during endoscopicprocedures in the past. Where coagulation of large surfaces is required,such as cystic cavity coagulation or endometrial ablation, endoscopicprocedures have the disadvantages of requiring substantial time andincreasing the chance for accidental scarring or contact.

There is a great need to expand the types of procedures that can beendoscopically performed in order to decrease trauma and recovery timefor patients while simultaneously reducing medical costs. Accordingly,much effort has been expended in the development of endoscopicinstruments for specific procedures; however, to date, no adequatesystem has been devised to permit adequate exposure duringendoscopically performed operative procedures. The use of gas and liquidinsufflation is presently the only option available to expose diagnosticand surgical sites but is not adequate for many procedures and hasdisadvantages due to the high pressure in the body which can causepulmonary problems, such as asymptomatic diaphragmatic hernias.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providemultifunctional devices for use in endoscopically performed operativeprocedures to expand the types of procedures that can be performedendoscopically while increasing patient safety and exposure of operativesites in endoscopic procedures presently being performed.

Another object of the present invention is to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages in endoscopic procedures utilizing electric orlaser coagulation and cutting by providing the availability ofsimultaneous tissue manipulation, cleaning and wiping of tissue,irrigation and/or aspiration and vision enhancement.

A further object of the present invention is to increase visualizationof operative fields or sites and to expose and isolate operative siteswith the use of packing devices having shapes and configurationsfacilitating positioning of the devices in the body and use withspecific organ structures and procedures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sponge-like,fluid absorbing device having a substantially rigid dry state allowingpassage through a narrow endoscopic portal, such as a trocar sleeve, acannula, an endoscope operating channel or the like, and permittingtissue manipulation and precise positioning at an internal operativesite to expose tissue and organ structures to be treated, absorb bodyfluids and protect adjacent tissue and organ structures.

A further object of the present invention is to pack an internaloperative site through a narrow endoscopic portal, that is a narrowportal for performing procedures with visualization through anendoscope, using a length of absorbent material having a rigid, drystate prior to use and a soft flexible, wet state when exposed to bodyfluids.

Yet an additional object of the present invention is to endoscopicallypack an internal operative site using a length of absorbent materialhaving a relatively straight configuration in a dry state and assuming anon-straight configuration in a wet state to allow the material to havea predetermined configuration when positioned at the operative site toabsorb body fluids.

The present invention is generally characterized in a multifunctionaldevice for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of thetype where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provideaccess to an operative site and the multifunctional device is introducedto the operative site through the narrow portal. The multifunctionaldevice is formed of an absorbent material, preferably expandable, havinga substantially rigid dry state prior to introduction to the operativesite and a soft, flexible wet state after absorbing fluids. Theabsorbent material can be formed with a spine therein of either acontinuous or a discontinuous, segmented construction, and the spine canbe branched and tubular or solid. The absorbent material can haveportions or segments thereof expandable to different sizes to producerounded protuberances to facilitate manipulation at the operative siteand can have predetermined, non-straight configurations in the wetstate, the predetermined configurations being controlled by the spine inthe absorbent material or the method of forming the absorbent material.The multifunctional device can have a passage therethrough toaccommodate laser, electrosurgical, biopsy or culturing instruments.Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art arethat precise packing at an internal operative site is accomplished via anarrow portal thereby expanding the types of procedures that can beperformed endoscopically and, further, increasing safety and efficacy inendoscopic procedures in general, that use of the devices providesimproved exposure of the operative site, protects surrounding organstructure, allows cultures to be taken, allows irrigation and/oraspiration or drainage with a cleansing effect to minimize theopportunity for inadvertent or catastrophic complications, that thedevices are sufficiently rigid or stiff in a dry state to allow preciseplacement thereof as well as manipulation of tissue, that the devicesfacilitate removal of infected fluids, such as pus, and abnormal fluids,such as cystic fluids, that the packing devices serve as a culturingmedium to identify specific infected organisms or specific malignantcells, that the devices can be used to apply medicaments to tissue andcan contain specific medications for specific purposes, such asantiseptics, antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents or anti-adhesiveagents or radiopaque materials for identification or location purposes,and that, when a plurality of packing devices are used in an endoscopicprocedure, each packing device is individually identified externally toconfirm the number of packing devices and the location of each packingdevice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimentstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a multifunctional device in combinationwith a trocar sleeve in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a broken top plan view of the multifunctional device of FIG. 1in a dry state.

FIG. 3 is a broken top plan view of the multifunctional device of FIG. 2in an expanded, wet state.

FIG. 4 is a broken view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention having a hook-shape in an expanded state.

FIGS. 5 and 7 are perspective and sectional views, respectively,illustrating the forming of the multifunctional device shown in FIG. 4to have a compressed rigid dry state as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a multifunctional device according tothe present invention having a trough-like configuration.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are end views of the multifunctional device of FIG. 8illustrating the formation of the configuration in the dry state.

FIG. 11 is a broken view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention in a dry state.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the multifunctional device of FIG. 11in a wet state.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a branched tubular spine for use in amultifunctional device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a broken sectional view of a multifunctional device accordingto the present invention having a tubular spine with branches andadapted to receive an electrosurgical or laser probe.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a spine having branches extending therefrom ina particular configuration to conform to an anatomical cavity orsurface.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention having a serpentine configuration in the wet state.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a multifunctional device according tothe present invention having a coiled configuration.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a multifunctional device according tothe present invention having a helical configuration.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention having a circular configuration to produce a lumentherein.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention having a figure “8” configuration to form a pair oflumens therein.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention having a spiral configuration.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a multifunctional device according tothe present invention having a square configuration in cross-section.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a multifunctional device according tothe present invention having a spoon-like configuration.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of a spine for a multifunctional deviceaccording to the present invention having a plurality of branchesextending from the distal end thereof.

FIGS. 25, 26 and 27 are perspective view of the spine configuration ofFIG. 24 for producing linear, curved and circular configurations,respectively.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a tag for use with the multifunctionaldevice according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a broken top plan view of a multifunctional device accordingto the present invention having a spine with closed loop segments.

FIG. 30 is a broken top plan view of the multifunctional device of FIG.29 in a wet state.

FIG. 31 is a sectional view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention covered by an elastic membrane.

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of the multifunctional device of FIG. 31 ina wet state.

FIG. 33 is a top plan view of a multifunctional device according to thepresent invention in a trocar sleeve with a bendable manipulator.

FIGS. 34 and 35 are broken views, partly in section, illustrating use ofthe multifunctional devices of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a broken view, partly in section, of a multifunctional deviceaccording to the present invention utilized with a biopsy instrument.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A multifunctional device in combination with a trocar sleeve inaccordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The trocarsleeve 10 terminates at its proximal end at a hub 12 having a valve 14therein forming a passage that can be opened to permit instruments topass through sleeve 10. The trocar sleeve, hub and valve form aconventional trocar assembly commonly used in laparoscopy wherein atrocar, not shown, passes through sleeve 10 and is used to puncture apneumoperitoneum and is thereafter withdrawn leaving the sleeve in placeto form a portal to gain access to an internal operative site. The term“operative site” as used herein refers to any diagnostic, surgical ortreatment site or field in the body. The multifunctional device 16 ofthe present invention can be used with any type of narrow portalproviding access to an internal operative site, with or without asleeve, a cannula or the operating channel of an endoscope; and, thetrocar sleeve 10 is exemplary only. The terms “endoscopic portal” and“narrow portal” as used herein mean any small opening providing accessto internal operative sites regardless of whether the opening is formedas a structural channel, such as a sleeve, a cannula or the operatingchannel of an endoscope, or a narrow incisional or natural entryopening.

The multifunctional device 16 is formed of an elongate length ofabsorbent, preferably expandable, material 18 having a rod-like,substantially straight configuration in a dry state, as shown in FIG. 2,and a tubular spine 20 is disposed in the material. The material 18 canbe any type of medical grade absorbent material that can absorb bodyfluids and, preferably, expand substantially from its size in a drystate, the expansion being dependent upon the procedure being performedand the size of the endoscopic portal. The material is relatively rigidor stiff in the dry state to allow introduction to the operative sitethrough the portal and its use to manipulate tissue prior to absorptionof body fluids; however, some flexibility may be desired dependent uponthe configuration of the endoscopic portal and the procedure to beperformed. While an expandable material is preferred to facilitatepacking and tissue exposure, if desired, the absorbent material can benon-expandable as long as the material becomes soft and pliant in thewet state after absorption of body fluids. That is, the material shouldhave the characteristics, when wet, of being soft enough to bend freelyand repeatedly without breaking and of being malleable and flexible.Sponge materials have been found to be the most effective for thedevice. Examples of materials 18 include compressed cellulose sponge,natural sponge, synthetic sponge made of a reaction product of polyvinylalcohol and formaldehyde, hydrophilic cross-linked polyurethane foam asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,544 to Crockford, No. 3,903,232 to Woodet al, No. 4,098,728 to Rosenblatt and No. 4,553,966 to Korteweg, andcompacted gauze or cotton. In the dry state, the multifunctional devicemust be sufficiently rigid to allow the device to be manipulated in afashion to be positioned adjacent an operative site to expose andisolate tissue or organ structure to be visualized and/or treated, therigid nature of the device 16 also allowing the device to be used tocontact and move or position tissue and organ structures to facilitatethe procedure to be endoscopically performed. In the dry state, thedevice is essentially a sponge stick. The length and width or lateralsize of the device will depend upon the procedure to be endoscopicallyperformed; and, as shown in FIG. 1, the device has a length longer thanthe length of the trocar sleeve and hub.

The construction of the device 16 is dependent upon the type ofabsorbent material employed and the procedure to be performed includingthe force required to remove the device after the procedure iscompleted. To this end, the spine 20 can pass centrally through thematerial 18, as shown, to form a core-like support attached to thematerial along the length thereof or can extend through or alongmaterial 18 at any position, or the material can have no spine. Aconnector 22 is fixed to the proximal end of material 18 and hassufficient tensile strength to prevent breakage when the device ispulled from the body by grasping the connector or a tag 24 fixed to theend of the connector. The connector can be flexible, rigid and/orbendable, as will be explained hereinafter, and the spine and connectorcan be integrally made of one-piece and be hollow or solid. When thespine passes through the material, it can be radiopague to enhancevisualization thereof, and the material 18 can also be radiopaque andcan have medicaments therein. The tag 24 can also be radiopaque and,preferably, carries indicia for identifying each device, the indiciataking the form of different colors and/or alpha-numeric labeling. Asshown in FIG. 28, the tag 24 can have an adhesive coating 23 covered byremovable release paper 25 to permit the tag to be secured to equipmentexternal of the body.

The device 16 is shown in FIG. 3 after contact with body fluids whichare absorbed by material 18 to cause the material to expand and becomesoft and flexible to facilitate use of the swollen device to pack theoperative site. The spine 20 and connector 22, as shown, are madeintegrally as one piece and are tubular, and spine 20 has lateral holes26 therein and an open distal end 27. Adjacent tag 24 is a valve or stopcock 28 communicating with connector 22 and having a coupling 30 adaptedto communicate with a source of suction or with a source of irrigatingfluid for supply to the operative site. The holes or perforations 26allow selective or continuous drainage of body fluids through spine 20and connector 22 when the device is wet. Additionally, medicaments orother therapeutic substances can be introduced to the operative site viaconnector 22, spine 20 and material 18.

The spine 20, whether tubular or solid, can be formed of any suitablematerial such as string, plastic or metal. In accordance with aparticularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, spine 20has resilient, spring-like properties and has a normal, non-straightconfiguration designed for a particular operative procedure. Forexample, spine 20 can have various simple or complex curved or partiallystraight shapes in the normal state. To this end, the spine can be madeof spring metal to have a predetermined non-straight, normalconfiguration; and, when the device is manufactured, the spine isstraightened and the absorbent material 18 is attached to the spine, forexample with adhesive, such that the dry, stiff condition of material 18maintains the spine in a substantially straight configuration.Accordingly, the device 16 can be inserted in a straight or linear paththrough the portal; and, once the device is in the body, material 18will absorb body fluids to become soft and allow the spine to return toits normal configuration producing a predetermined configuration for usein specific procedures. The shape memory of packing device can beaccomplished in other suitable manners, some of which are describedhereinafter, and spine 20 can be disposed within material 18 orexternally along an outer edge of material 18.

Another manner in which device 16 can be manufactured to have shapememory to assume a predetermined configuration when in a wet state isshown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. The sponge is initially molded or cut froma cured sheet of sponge material to have a hook-like, distal endconfiguration 32 as shown in FIG. 4 with a relatively stable shape, andthe soft cured sponge is placed in a substantially straight recess 34 ina two-part fixture 36. The sponge 18 is dried by heating and via fluidwithdrawn through manifold 38; and, as the sponge shrinks, a bladder 40is forced against the sponge 18 to maintain a substantially straightconfiguration. The dried sponge will, thus, have the shape shown in FIG.6 and will retain this rod or stick-like shape in the dry state. In use,when the device is introduced into the body via a portal, the sponge 18will absorb body fluids and, when wet, will return to the expandedhook-like shape shown in FIG. 4.

A multifunctional device 41 having a trough-like configuration isillustrated in FIG. 8, the device having a tapered proximal and 42 andtubular spine 44 running centrally therethrough with lateral and endholes therein as described above with respect to spine 20. Theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 8 is assumed once the device 41 hasbeen introduced into the body at the operative site, and theconfiguration of device 41 makes it particularly useful in supportingtubular organ structures in the trough-like recess. In order for thedevice 41 to have a configuration in a dry state to be introducedthrough a narrow portal, the portions or wings 46 and 48 on oppositesides of spine 44 can be rolled up to produce longitudinally abuttingspiral configurations as illustrated in FIG. 9 where the wings 46 and 48are shown in their wet or expanded state in phantom. Another manner inwhich the device 41 can be configured in its dry state is to roll upwing 46 initially as illustrated at (1) in FIG. 10, and thereafter, windwing 48 around rolled up wing 46 as illustrated at (2). In use, themultifunctional device 41 in the dry state configuration of either FIG.9 or 10 is introduced through the portal to the operative site; and,once the sponge material of the device absorbs body fluids, the wings 46and 48 will unroll or unwind to produce the configuration illustrated inFIG. 8 thereby allowing the device 41 to be rigid and manipulate organstructure while the device is being properly positioned and thereafterto unfurl to provide an enveloping packing for the organ structure. Bypredetermining the size and curvature of the multifunctional device 41,the configuration of the device can be particularly designed to cup atubular organ structure in the body, such as a bowel, an appendix or afallopian tube. The device 41 is shown in FIG. 8 using a non-expandingmaterial 18; however, an expanding material can be used if desired.

Another multifunctional device 50 according to the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 11 in its dry state and is formed of a spongematerial 52 with a solid spine 54 extending therethrough and continuingfrom the proximal end to form a connector 56 terminating at a sphericalend member 58. The spine and connector can be flexible or semi-flexibleor bendable such that positioning of connector 56 either with a bend orby securing end member 58 to equipment external of the body allowspositioning of the multifunctional device 50 to be fixed. The spongematerial 52 is formed of alternating segments 60 and 62 with segments 60having a cell or pore density substantially greater than the cell orpore density of segments 62. In this manner, when the device 50 is inthe wet state after introduction into the body as illustrated in FIG.12, the device 50 will have a plurality of protuberant segments tofacilitate handling within the body and proper positioning of the device50 at the operative site. By gradually varying the density of the cellsor pores within segments 60, spherical protuberances 60′ can be formedin the wet state with the protuberances 60′ interconnected by smallerrod-like segments 62′ corresponding to segment 62 shown in FIG. 11,segments 62 not expanding to the same size as segments 60 due to thereduced cell or pore density thereof. If it is desired for themultifunctional device 50 to have a general overall configuration, suchas circular or hook-shaped, the spine 54 can be a continuous memberprovided with such configuration in its normal state or, curved spinesegments can be disposed at spaced positions in the sponge material onlyat particular areas, such as in the lower density segments 62, toprovide a discontinuous spine. In this manner, the protuberances 60′formed in the wet state will have no spine therein while the connectingsegments 62′ will have a spine segment therein controlling the overallconfiguration of the device 50 in the wet state. A circular shape forthe overall configuration of the multifunctional device is particularlyadvantageous for use in surrounding tissue to be treated, such as, forexample, the ovary, the fallopian tube or the appendix.

A modification of a spine for use in the multifunctional devicesaccording to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 13 wherein thespine 64 is formed of a tubular trunk 66 with tubular branches 68extending therefrom at an acute angle to the distal direction with thebranches being flexibly or movably mounted to allow the branches to becompressed to be in substantial alignmentwith the trunk, as indicated inphantom, when the multifunctional device is in a dry state and thesponge material, not shown, is compressed around the spine and to allowthe branches to move outwardly when the device is in the wet state. Thebranched spine 64 can be either tubular or solid or the branches 68 canbe solid with only the trunk 66 tubular. Additionally, the spine canhave a normal, non-straight configuration, as discussed above, such thatwhen the device is in a wet state the device will assume apredetermined, non-straight configuration. Additionally, thepredetermined configuration can be determined by forming the spongematerial in the manner described above with respect to FIGS. 4 through7.

A branch spine 70 is illustrated in a multifunctional device 72according to the present invention in FIG. 14 and includes a tubularelectrically conductive trunk 74 with electrically conductive solidbranches 76 extending angularly therefrom and terminating at tips at theperipheral surface of sponge material 78 when in the wet state. With theembodiment of FIG. 14, an electrosurgical probe 80 can be passed throughthe portal and through the tubular trunk 74 such that a unipolarelectrosurgical device is produced with multiple electrodes defined atthe peripheral surface of the sponge. The multifunctional device 72 can,therefore, be efficiently utilized to coagulate large surface areas suchas cystic cavities or the endometrium of the uterus. The sponge material78 will be formed with a specific configuration to conform to the cavitywall to be cauterized thereby substantially decreasing the time requiredfor endometrial ablation, for example, while also assuring completetissue contact and ablation. A spine 65 is shown in FIG. 15 havingbranches 67 extending from a trunk 69 in a particular arrangement foruse with a sponge material configured to mate with an anatomical cavity.

FIGS. 16 through 21 show various multifunctional configurationsparticularly advantageous for use with specific procedures at theoperative site. The multifunctional device 81 illustrated in FIG. 16 hasa serpentine configuration to produce a zig-zag shape changing graduallyfrom the distal end to the proximal end and is particularly useful forabscess drainage. The coiled configuration shown in multifunctionaldevice 82 in FIG. 17 is self-coiling which allows the device 82 to coilaround tissue and lift or otherwise manipulate the tissue to positionthe tissue in the most advantageous position for treatment. The coileddevice 82 is particularly useful in procedures requiring packing ormanipulation of the ovary, the gall bladder or the appendix, and thesoft nature of the sponge material in the wet state produces gentlepositioning of the tissue requiring no contact of the tissue with rigidpositioning instruments. The increasing diameter coiled spiralconfiguration of the multifunctional device 84 illustrated in FIG. 18 isparticularly advantageous for insertion within an organ, such as theovary or the fimbrial end, to absorb and/or aspirate body fluidtherefrom without leakage into the body cavity. The circular shape ofthe multifunctional device 86 illustrated in FIG. 19 is particularlyadvantageous due to the lumen therein for encircling or surroundingtissue such as the ovary, the fallopian tube or the appendix. Thedouble-lumen configuration of the multifunctional device 88 illustratedin FIG. 20 is particularly useful for positioning organ structuresadjacent one another to facilitate a procedure. As illustrated, thedevice 88 has a figure “8” shape in the wet state to define lumens 90and 92 therethrough for surrounding the organ structures. For example,lumen 90 can be utilized to surround an ovarian follicle while lumen 92can surround the fimbrial end to position the fimbrial end and theovarian follicle side-by-side. The spiral, single plane configuration ofmultifunctional device 94 illustrated in FIG. 21 produces a pad ormat-like large surface area which can be flat or slightly concave and isparticularly useful to hold the ovary and collect body fluid duringovarian fluid aspiration with the bowl-shaped embodiment collecting thefluid to assure complete aspiration. All of the configurations discussedabove will have a substantially straight, rod-like configuration in thedry state and the predetermined configurations in the wet state can beproduced in any desirable manner for example by utilizing spines havingsuch configurations in their normal shape or by forming the devices inthe manner discussed above with respect to FIGS. 4 through 7.

A multifunctional device 96 is illustrated in FIG. 22 as having asubstantially square or rectangular shape in cross-section and isexemplary of various cross-sectional configurations that can be utilizedwith multifunctional devices according to the present invention when thedevices are in the wet state. It is preferred that, in the dry state,the devices have smoothly curved surfaces such as that provided by acylindrical or rod-like configuration.

A multifunctional device 98 is illustrated in FIG. 23 having aspoon-like configuration in that the device 98 has a recessed shape inthe wet state with a wide curved mouth 100 tapering to a more narrowproximal portion. A branched spine 104 is disposed within the spongematerial 106 and is preferably tubular to facilitate aspiration and/orirrigation due to the primary use of device 98 for cupping and liftingorgan structures in a soft manner.

When the multifunctional devices are used primarily for tissuemanipulation rather than packing, the devices can advantageously includea spine 108 as illustrated in FIG. 24 having a trunk 110 terminating atits distal end at a plurality of angularly extending branches 112. Thespine 108 is shown as being entirely tubular; however, it will beappreciated that the spine can have any completely tubular, solid orpartly tubular configuration. The arrangement of the branches 112 whenthe sponge material, not shown, surrounding the spine is in a wet statecan have any desired configuration. For example, the branches 112 can bealigned in a straight line as shown in FIG. 25, can be arranged to forma curved or concave alignment as shown in FIG. 26 or can have a circulararrangement as shown in FIG. 27. The fan-shaped arrangement of branches112 allows the multifunctional devices to be configured as particularlydesired to gently engage tissue and organ structure to properlymanipulate and position the tissue and organ structure for a particularprocedure.

In a multifunctional device 114 shown in FIG. 29, the spine is formed ofsegments of closed loops 116 with the loop compressed when the spongematerial is in the dry state. When the device 114 is in the wet state,as illustrated in FIG. 30, the segments 116 return to their normalconfiguration to define the shape of the protuberances 118 on thedevice. The loops 116 are shown as being circular in FIG. 30; however,the loops can have any desired closed configuration, such as triangular,rectangular or polygonal.

In the multifunctional device 120 illustrated in FIGS. 31 and 32 in thedry and wet states, respectively, the sponge material 122 is surroundedby an elastic, stretchable membrane 124, such as silicone rubber, andthe spine 126 has a branched configuration with a tubular trunk andtubular branches as previously described with respect to FIG. 13. Withthe use of the membrane 124, the device 120 can utilize a non-medicallyaccepted sponge material 122, and the expansion of the sponge onceintroduced into the body through the portal can be achieved by forcing ahigh viscosity, medical grade, non-toxic fluid, such as 32% dextrose,from a source through the tubular connector and spine to cause thesponge material to expand.

FIG. 33 illustrates a multifunctional device 128 according to thepresent invention particularly designed for manipulating and positioningtissue and organ structures within the body, the device 128 passingthrough a trocar sleeve 130. The multifunctional device 128 has a hookor half-circle configuration at its distal end formed of a spongematerial 132 with a tubular spine therein, not shown. A tubular,substantially rigid manipulator 134 has a distal end fixed to theproximal end of the sponge material 132 and terminates at its proximalend adjacent a stop cock 136. If a spine is utilized in the spongematerial 132, it can extend concentrically within manipulator 134 tocommunicate with the valve cock 136 and a coupling 138. Since themulti-functional device 128 is particularly designed for manipulatingtissue, the manipulator 134 is preferably bendable such that, afterintroduction into the body via a portal, the sponge material 132 can beutilized to engage tissue or organ structure after assuming its wetcurved configuration. Once the tissue or organ structure is engaged withthe hook-shaped end of the device 128, the manipulator 134 can beretracted through the sleeve 130 to position or retract the engagedtissue or organ structure. Once the tissue or organ structure isprecisely positioned, the manipulator 134 is bent as illustrated at 140in phantom to engage equipment external of the body and prevent thedevice 128 from moving internally. Accordingly, manipulator 134 providesthe functions of moving the distal end of the device as required toengage and position tissue and also holding the distal end of the deviceand the engaged tissue in a selected position.

Use of a multifunctional device 142 in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 34 wherein the device has been passedthrough a sleeve 146 that extends through the skin and muscle of theabdomen 148, and the device 142 is positioned between the gall bladder150 and the bowel 152. The device 142 will preferably have an elongated,spoon-like configuration in the wet state to cup and support the gallbladder for use in performing a cholecystectomy.

Use of multifunctional devices 154 and 156 according to the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 35 to isolate and expose the fallopiantube 158. Device 154 has protuberances 160 and is structured to form acircle to surround and support the fallopian tube 158 which extendsthrough the lumen formed thereby. The device 156 has a spoon-likeconfiguration similar to device 98 shown in FIG. 23 and is utilized tomanipulate and position the fallopian tube. The devices 154 and 156 areillustrated passing through separate trocar sleeves 162 and 164,respectively.

By forming the multifunctional devices according to the presentinvention with a tubular spine, the devices are particularly useful forintroducing tissue treating probes such as electrosurgical, laser,biopsy and culturing instruments, in that the sponge material protectsthe probes from inadvertent contact with tissue other than that intendedto be treated as well as providing cleaning, wiping and fluid absorbtionfunctions. The tubular spine is shown with passage of a biopsy needletherethrough in FIG. 36. The biopsy needle has a sharp distal end 166adjacent a lateral opening 168; and, due to the use of sponge material170, the device can be positioned immediately adjacent tissue to besampled. Movement of an inner member 172 against the bias of a spring174 allows an opening 176 in the inner member to be aligned with lateralopening 168 to permit communication with a squeeze bulb 178 to collect abiopsy specimen. A laser or electrosurgical probe can similarly bepassed through the tubular spine 180 to allow protected use thereof.

From the above, it should be appreciated that endoscopic proceduresperformed in accordance with the present invention are substantiallyimproved with the multifunctional devices described above. By combiningthe various features of the multifunctional devices described above,devices can be designed for specific operative procedures to beperformed and to provide specific functions for use with instrumentsused in the procedure. For example, the configurations of the devices inthe wet state can be controlled or predetermined, or the devices canremain flexible along the full length thereof. The flexibility orrigidity of the devices in the wet state can be controlled by varyingcell or pore density when the sponge material is compressed withrigidity increasing with increasing cell or pore density. In thismanner, the rigidity or flexibility of a device can be constant or canvary at portions along the device to facilitate positioning of thedevice between, around or under tissue. The spine can be rigid orflexible, solid, such as a rod or string, or tubular, continuous ordiscontinuous (i.e., interrupted or segmented) dependent upon intendeduse of a device. The use of a tubular spine defines a longitudinalpassage through the device to receive various instruments such aselectrosurgical and laser probes, endoscopes and aspirating and biopsyneedles. The sponge material surrounding the distal portion of theinstrument allows simultaneous manipulation of tissue, cleaning andwiping of tissue, and aspiration and/or irrigation at the operative siteto increase visualization and facilitate precise positioning and use ofthe instrument. By providing a conductive path from the tubular trunk tothe distal tips of conductive branches extending from the trunk andpositioning the distal tips at the peripheral surface of the sponge,electrosurgical coagulation of large sources, such as in cysticcavities, ovarian cystic cavities, endometrium of uterine cavity orother pathological or non-pathological surfaces, can be accomplishedsimultaneously with a single device in a safe protected environment. Tothis end, the sponge and branches are configured to mate with thesurface or cavity, and portions of the trunk are insulated to controlthe flow of electricity. The connector extending from the sponge andthrough the portal can be tubular or solid and flexible, rigid orbendable dependent upon use for the sponge. When the device is primarilyused to manipulate tissue, the connector will normally be rigid and,preferably, bendable to fix the device in a retracted position; and, byusing geometrical shapes for the proximal end member, the end member canbe secured to equipment to fix the device in a retracted position. Thetags on the proximal end can be used for identification and can beadhesively secured to equipment or surgical drapes. The devices can haverecesses or cavities in the distal ends or the sides of the sponges, anda conical shape for the sponge can be achieved by gradually varying thecell or pore density of the sponge.

Use of the multifunctional devices of the present invention inendoscopic operative procedures, and in many cases in open procedures,allow increased visualization of the operative site, exposure andisolation of the operative site to protect surrounding tissue,manipulation and retraction or positioning of tissue, separation ofadhering tissue (lysis of adhesion), obtaining cultures with a softmaterial so as not to damage tissue, absorbtion and aspiration of bodyfluids, and introduction of medicaments such as antiseptics,anticoagulants, antiadhesive agents, antichemotherapeutic agents andculture media for aerobic and anaerobic organisms by impregnating themedicaments in the sponge to leak out during the procedure or deliveringthe medicaments to the sponge via the tubular spine and connector.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many modifications,variations and changes in detail, it is intended that all subject matterdiscussed above or shown in the illustrative drawings be interpreted asillustrative only and not to be taken in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of ablating portions of a uterus,comprising the steps of: inserting a sponge body into the uterus whilethe sponge body is in a compacted state; expanding the sponge body to anexpanded state after said inserting step; and transferring energybetween portions of the uterus and the sponge body with an ablationmechanism.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said expandingstep comprises allowing the sponge body to absorb natural body fluids.3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ablation mechanism isdisposed in the sponge body.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1, whereinthe ablation mechanism is disposed adjacent to an outer surface of thesponge body.
 5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein saidtransferring step comprises transferring heat generated by anelectrosurgical instrument.
 6. A method of ablating portions of auterus, comprising the steps of: inserting a moisture permeable memberinto the uterus; expanding the moisture permeable member into anexpanded state within the uterus to define a peripheral surface of themoisture permeable member in its expanded state; and transferring energybetween portions of the uterus and the moisture permeable member with anablation mechanism.
 7. A method as recited in claim 6, furthercomprising the step of allowing the moisture permeable member to absorbmoisture.
 8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the ablationmechanism is disposed adjacent to the peripheral surface of the moisturepermeable member.
 9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein saidtransferring step comprises transferring heat generated by an electrode.10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the ablation mechanism is aplurality of electrical conductors.
 11. A method as recited in claim 6,wherein the moisture permeable member is a sponge.
 12. A method asrecited in claim 6, wherein the moisture permeable member is dry andrigid when it is inserted into the uterus and wet and flexible in theexpanded state.
 13. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the moisturepermeable member comprises a electrically conductive trunk.
 14. A methodas recited in claim 13, wherein the moisture permeable member compriseselectrical conductors extending from the trunk.
 15. A method of ablatingportions of a uterus, comprising the steps of: inserting a moisturepermeable member into the uterus; expanding the moisture permeablemember into an expanded state within the uterus to define a peripheralsurface of the moisture permeable member in its expanded state;transferring heat between portions of the uterus and the moisturepermeable member with an electrode disposed adjacent to the peripheralsurface of the moisture permeable member; and removing moisture awayfrom the uterus.
 16. A method of ablating portions of a body organ,comprising the steps of: inserting a moisture permeable member into thebody organ; expanding the moisture permeable member into an expandedstate within the body organ to define a peripheral surface of themoisture permeable member in its expanded state; and transferring energybetween portions of the body organ and the moisture permeable memberwith an ablation mechanism.
 17. A method as recited in claim 16, furthercomprising the step of allowing the moisture permeable member to absorbmoisture.
 18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the ablationmechanism is disposed adjacent to the peripheral surface of the moisturepermeable member.
 19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein theablation mechanism is disposed at the peripheral surface of the moisturepermeable member.
 20. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein saidtransferring step comprises transferring heat generated by an electrode.21. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the ablation mechanism is aplurality of electrical conductors.
 22. A method as recited in claim 16,wherein the moisture permeable member is a sponge.
 23. A method asrecited in claim 16, wherein the moisture permeable member is dry andrigid when it is inserted into the body organ and wet and flexible inthe expanded state.
 24. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein themoisture permeable member comprises a electrically conductive trunk. 25.A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the moisture permeable membercomprises electrical conductors extending from the trunk.